Djokovic was level at one set apiece during the Australian Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, but the Spanish star, 16 years his junior, put his foot on the accelerator and ran away with the contest. There are some who believe Djokovic will never get a better chance of winning No.25, but the 38-year-old is determined to give it his best shot.
That involves scaling back his commitments in the run-up to Slams, with the French Open next on the agenda. But before that, Djokovic has bagged a new role as the host for the upcoming Laureus World Sports Awards.
Ironically, they’re taking place in Madrid – the location of the Masters 1000 event he’s just pulled out of – and will be held on Monday, April 20. He is a five-time winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award and will host the event alongside Olympic skier Eileen Gu.
On the upcoming event, he remarked: “Last year, I was privileged to present Mondo Duplantis with his Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award – and this time I am delighted to be hosting the show with Eileen, a remarkable athlete who also understands the purpose and mission of Laureus.”
Back on the court, Djokovic has now missed three consecutive Masters tournaments in a row, with the next one pencilled in for Rome on May 6. Djokovic is signed up for the Italian Open, but it remains to be seen whether he decides to compete or opts out for a little more rest before the French Open.
In a statement, the Madrid Open tournament organisers wrote: “Novak Djokovic, a three-time #MMOPEN champion, will not be able to participate in this year’s tournament. We hope to see you back here as soon as possible so we can enjoy your tennis as we have done so many times in the Caja Magica.”
Elsewhere, doubts surrounding Alcaraz’s involvement in the Madrid Open were raised in mid-week when the seven-time Slam winner pulled out of the Barcelona Open. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner is also contemplating his involvement, as the world No.1 looks to negotiate the increasingly demanding tennis schedule.